Israel marks third anniversary of 7 October attack as Gaza officials report deadly strikes

Israel marked the third anniversary of the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, with memorials and silent tributes.

Family members gathered in silence at the site of the Nova music festival, one of the locations attacked. Commemorations were also held at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, another site of the attack.

Palestinian officials in Gaza said Israeli strikes in the territory killed at least two people around the time of the anniversary. A ceasefire has been in place in Gaza for about one year. The anniversary comes weeks before national elections in Israel.

The commemorations

At the Nova site, families paid tribute in front of portraits of festival-goers and security forces who died there, according to Deutsche Welle (DW). DW reported that more than 300 people were killed at the site. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), at least one family member played techno music in tribute. At Kfar Aza, mourners watched in silence as an Israeli flag was raised, DW reported.

According to DW, the 2023 attack killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, and 251 others were taken hostage. DW reported that the last living hostages were released a year ago under a US-brokered ceasefire deal.

Strikes in Gaza

SCMP reported that loud bangs could be heard from Gaza during the commemorations as Israel carried out new strikes. Accounts of the timing differ. DW says the strikes took place on Wednesday. SCMP cites Gaza officials as saying they took place overnight.

DW reported that one of those killed was a volunteer with the emergency rescue agency under Hamas. It does not say who made that identification. The reports do not identify the second person killed. They also do not include any statement from the Israeli military or government on the targets of, or reasons for, the strikes.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, cited by DW, the war has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians since 7 October 2023, around half of them women and children. The reports do not describe independent verification of these figures. DW reported that the war has displaced most of Gaza's population.

Elections

According to DW, Israel's elections are scheduled for 27 October 2026. SCMP reported that the attack is expected to feature prominently in the election debate.

What each side says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany stands firmly by Israel's side and is committed to preventing a repeat of the attack, according to DW. DW quoted him as saying: "We stand for the security and existence of Israel." He said peace and security in the region "can best be achieved through the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel." Merz also said antisemitism is rising in Germany and that his government would "do everything in its power to consistently combat anti-Semitism in all its new and old forms."

Gaza officials said the strikes killed at least two people. The reports do not include any statement from Hamas, which the European Union, the United States, Germany and other countries classify as a terrorist organization, according to DW. The reports also do not say whether either side considers the strikes a violation of the ceasefire.

Analysis

The anniversary highlights how the events of 7 October 2023 remain central to public life in Israel and in Gaza. The reported strikes, during a ceasefire of about one year, raise questions the available reports do not answer: what was targeted, and how each side views the ceasefire's status. With elections scheduled for 27 October, the attack may shape campaign debates, though the reports do not describe their content. Several scenarios are possible, from a stable ceasefire to renewed escalation. Merz's remarks reflect one international position, combining support for Israel's security with backing for a Palestinian state.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.